Hiking Challenges

Each year, the Friends of South Cumberland offer a "hiking challenge" to help visitors discover different aspects of the vast reaches of South Cumberland State Park. Below is a synopsis of each of the hiking challenges, which we invite you to take on as an interesting and challenging way of discovering all that South Cumberland State Park has to offer!

NOTE: Even though these hiking challenges were actively promoted in the years indicated, all of the hikes described therein are still wonderful adventures. We encourage you to make it a personal challenge to complete as many of these "classic hikes" as you can! More information about any of the hikes featured in any Challenge can be obtained at the park's Visitor Center.

2017 Challenge: "Hiking in Mack's Tracks"Mack Prichard, Tennessee State Naturalist Emeritus, was instrumental in marshaling resources and building coalitions that led to the creation of South Cumberland State Park, back in the 1970s. Along the way, he took outdoor enthusiasts, environmental activists, state officials and even Tennessee's then-Governor, Winfield Dunn, into the wilds of Savage Gulf and Fiery Gizzard to let them see for themselves why those areas, and ultimately others in the region, were deserving of conservation. Our 2017 Challenge, Hiking in Mack's Tracks, tells Mack's story and takes you to many of Mack's favorite places in the park!

2016 Challenge: "Hike Into History"Our third-year challenge invited visitors to view the Park through the lens of history. As you traverse the Park's trails, there are many signs of previous natural and human history to be discovered by the observant hiker. To learn more about what you'll discover, view the video below, and visit the Hike Into History section of this website:

2015 Challenge: "Waterfalls of the South Cumberland"Our second-year challenge invited visitors to discover each of the major waterfalls found within South Cumberland State Park. To learn more, view the video below, which showcases each of the 15 spectacular waterfalls included in this challenge:

2014 Challenge: "Hike 'Em All!"Our inaugural challenge, "Hike 'Em All" invited visitors to explore each of the major trails in South Cumberland State Park -- over 90 miles in all -- spread across eight of the nine tracts that make up the Park. For details about each of the trails included in the "Hike 'Em All" challenge you can view the video below, which organizes the trails in order, from shortest to longest: